By Ryan Morden
Oswego, NY – State Senator Darrel Aubertine said the Senate's agriculture committee could vote on a farm labor bill in April.
Among features of the bill, farmers would have to pay over time to laborers who work more than 60 hours in a week or 10 hours in a day.
Farm workers would also gain the right to form a union if they work at the state's largest farms.
During a hearing earlier this month, advocates for the bill said workers were abused.
They say this labor bill would give farmworkers protection.
Senetor Aubertine opposes the bill. He said if farmworkers are being abused, there are laws in place to protect workers.
"During the hearing there was a lot of discussion around the idea of sexual abuse and people being abused in general. That's against the law now. If that's going on, we certainly have the ability to do something about it," said Aubertine.
Aubertine made the remarks on The Capitol Pressroom.
The Democrat is the Chairman of the agriculture committee and has committed to bringing the farm labor bill up for a vote before the end of the session.
The measure already passed the Assembly.